Two TV stations in Salt Lake City and Minneapolis created their versions of Happy Holiday promos. One might move you to tears and the other might move you to download their app.
Huffman’s promotion from assistant news director to VP and news director is effective immediately. He has been with the duopoly since July 2002.
AIR CHECK BY DIANA MARSZALEK
It’s Not Your Father’s Late News At Fox O&Os
The 16 Fox-owned stations that produce news are trying to change the way they do latenight news and “break out of the box.” Among the innovations are debates, interviews and commentary about controversial local issues. Says AR&D’s Jerry Gumbert: “Fox realizes, perhaps better than some broadcasters, that the same old content and same old format and presentation style are barriers to future growth and relevancy with consumers.”
JESSELL AT LARGE
Local TV News Fix: Full Free Speech Rights
Steve Waldman, the FCC’s point man of saving local jounalism, might actually do some good by calling for full First Amendment rights for broadcasters. He can start by condemning the fines that the FCC imposed a couple of weeks ago on New Jersey’s tiny WMGM and Fox O&O KMSP Minneapolis for running VNRs. The fines are an affront to the free speech rights of all broadcasters. Waldman should say so and call on Congress to get out of the business of regulating TV and radio content.
DMAS 4 & 15
FCC Levies Fines On KMSP, WMGM
The Minneapolis and Philadelphia market stations were fined by the FCC for airing video news releases during newscasts without properly identifying them. They were each fined $4,000. The charges were brought against them by Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy.
